Occupation · SOC 25-1061
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in anthropology or archeology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
333 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingReading ComprehensionLearning StrategiesWritingInstructingActive ListeningActive LearningScienceMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingTime ManagementSystems EvaluationSocial PerceptivenessSystems AnalysisService OrientationCoordinationPersuasionNegotiationManagement of Personnel ResourcesMathematicsOperations AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Sociology and AnthropologyEnglish LanguageHistory and ArcheologyEducation and TrainingGeographyForeign LanguagePhilosophy and TheologyCommunications and MediaPsychologyAdministrativeMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsCustomer and Personal ServiceBiologyAdministration and ManagementTherapy and CounselingMedicine and DentistryPersonnel and Human ResourcesLaw and GovernmentEconomics and AccountingChemistryFine ArtsPublic Safety and SecurityDesignPhysicsTransportationTelecommunicationsSales and MarketingFood ProductionEngineering and TechnologyMechanicalBuilding and ConstructionProduction and Processing
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe DreamweaverAdobe IllustratorAdobe PhotoshopBlackboard LearnCalendar and scheduling softwareCollaborative editing softwareCourse management system softwareDOC CopDesire2Learn LMS softwareDigitizing softwareESRI ArcGIS Geostatistical AnalystESRI ArcGIS Spatial AnalystESRI ArcGIS softwareESRI ArcMapESRI ArcViewESRI ArcView 3D AnalystEmail softwareGeographic information system GIS softwareGibbsCAMGolden Software SurferGoogle DocsIBM SPSS StatisticsImage scanning softwareLearning management system LMSMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordSakai CLEWeb browser softwareWord processing softwareiParadigms Turnitin
Representative tasks
Training and Teaching OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationWorking with ComputersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkCoaching and Developing OthersProcessing InformationGetting InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesThinking CreativelyAnalyzing Data or InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsScheduling Work and ActivitiesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsDeveloping and Building TeamsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationAssisting and Caring for OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesStaffing Organizational UnitsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesSelling or Influencing OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Undergraduate lecture preparation — draft and deliver introductory lectures on foundational anthropological topics such as kinship systems or archaeological methods under faculty mentorship in a university classroom setting.Course syllabi and materials — compile and organize syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts for assigned courses following departmental templates and guidelines.Classroom discussion facilitation — initiate and moderate entry-level seminar discussions on cultural theory or archaeological evidence with close guidance from senior faculty.Student grading — evaluate and return undergraduate assignments, papers, and class participation using provided rubrics and grading criteria within an academic department.Academic advising — advise undergraduate students on curriculum requirements, course sequencing, and introductory research opportunities under the direction of a supervising professor.Field and laboratory supervision — assist in supervising student laboratory or field work activities, including artifact cataloguing and site documentation, under direct oversight of a senior researcher.Literature monitoring — read current peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings in sociocultural anthropology or archaeology to stay current with disciplinary developments.Research data collection — gather primary or secondary data for an assigned research project using established methodologies and document management software in an academic research setting.Professional conference participation — attend disciplinary conferences such as AAA or SAA annual meetings to observe presentations and begin building collegial networks.Geographic information systems — apply GIS software at a foundational level to map archaeological site locations or cultural distribution patterns in support of a faculty-led research project.
developing
Graduate course instruction — prepare and deliver lectures to graduate students on specialized topics such as urban anthropology, ethnoarchaeology, or linguistic anthropology with reduced faculty oversight in a university setting.Discussion leadership — facilitate and moderate substantive classroom discussions that connect empirical case studies to theoretical frameworks across multiple course sections.Comprehensive course design — develop full course materials including syllabi, reading lists, and multimedia handouts for both undergraduate and graduate offerings within departmental guidelines.Holistic student evaluation — assess graduate student seminar papers, field reports, and oral presentations using independently developed rubrics calibrated to disciplinary standards.Graduate student advising — advise master's students on thesis topics, research design, and professional development pathways drawing on knowledge of disciplinary career trajectories.Field research supervision — supervise student laboratory analysis or archaeological field excavations, ensuring methodological rigor and safety compliance at active research sites.Peer-reviewed publication — draft and submit research findings to peer-reviewed journals or edited volumes, incorporating reviewer feedback through multiple revision cycles.Conference presentation — present original research at national or international professional conferences, fielding questions from specialists and incorporating feedback into ongoing work.Colleague collaboration — engage in regular dialogue with disciplinary colleagues to refine theoretical frameworks and share methodological innovations across institutional contexts.Instructional technology integration — incorporate computer-based training software, web-based resources, and OCR scanning tools into course delivery to enhance student engagement with primary sources.
proficient
Advanced lecture design — independently design and deliver a full sequence of undergraduate and graduate lectures spanning research methods, regional prehistory, and cultural theory, adapting content to varied student backgrounds in a research-intensive university.Dissertation supervision — guide doctoral candidates through all phases of dissertation research, from prospectus development through oral defense, providing autonomous scholarly mentorship.Non-routine student advising — counsel graduate students navigating complex academic, professional, and personal challenges, drawing on deep knowledge of disciplinary norms and career pathways across academic and applied sectors.Original scholarly research — conceptualize, execute, and publish original research in anthropology or archaeology in leading peer-reviewed journals and books, establishing a recognized area of expertise.Complex fieldwork oversight — lead and supervise multi-student field or laboratory research projects in demanding environments, managing logistics, safety protocols, and methodological quality autonomously.Grant writing and administration — independently write competitive external research grant proposals to NSF, NEH, or Wenner-Gren and manage awarded budgets and reporting requirements.Interdisciplinary curriculum development — design interdisciplinary courses that integrate sociocultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and linguistics, using learning strategies tailored to advanced graduate seminars.Critical manuscript review — serve as peer reviewer for leading journals such as American Anthropologist or Journal of Archaeological Science, providing rigorous, constructive evaluations of submitted manuscripts.Applied professional judgment — apply inductive and deductive reasoning to resolve non-routine methodological or ethical dilemmas arising in field research or human subjects protocols at a research university.Public and digital scholarship — translate research findings into accessible formats using web page creation tools, electronic media, and public lectures to engage audiences beyond the academy.
advanced
Departmental academic leadership — set curricular direction and research priorities for an entire anthropology or archaeology department, aligning faculty hiring, course offerings, and resource allocation with institutional strategic goals.Doctoral program architecture — design, evaluate, and continuously improve doctoral training programs, including qualifying examination structures, dissertation committee policies, and professionalization seminars.Faculty mentorship and development — mentor junior faculty through tenure and promotion processes, providing feedback on teaching portfolios, research trajectories, and professional service obligations across the department.Large-scale research program direction — lead multi-year, externally funded research programs involving interdisciplinary teams, fieldwork across multiple sites, and the production of major scholarly outputs at an organizational scale.National disciplinary leadership — assume leadership roles in professional organizations such as the American Anthropological Association or Society for American Archaeology, shaping standards, ethics codes, and disciplinary policy.Institutional collaboration and partnership — forge strategic partnerships with museums, government agencies, Indigenous communities, and international universities to expand research capacity and community engagement for the institution.Scholarly innovation and paradigm contribution — publish foundational theoretical or methodological works that reorient scholarly debate, drawing on deep expertise in sociology and anthropology, history, and philosophy.Accreditation and program evaluation — lead department-level or college-level program review and accreditation processes, applying systems evaluation skills to assess curricular effectiveness and recommend structural reforms.Diversity and equity leadership — champion equity, inclusion, and decolonization initiatives in hiring practices, curriculum content, and field research protocols across the department and institution.Cross-institutional knowledge transfer — represent the institution at executive-level forums, deliver named lectures at peer institutions, and disseminate best practices in anthropological education and research through invited keynote presentations and policy briefs.
Also known as
26 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Adjunct Anthropology InstructorAdjunct Anthropology LecturerAdjunct InstructorAnthropology Adjunct ProfessorAnthropology Department ChairAnthropology Faculty MemberAnthropology InstructorAnthropology LecturerAnthropology ProfessorArchaeology ProfessorArcheology Faculty MemberArcheology InstructorAssistant ProfessorAssociate ProfessorCollege ProfessorCultural Anthropology LecturerCultural Anthropology ProfessorEthnoarchaeology ProfessorInstructorLecturerNear East Archeology ProfessorPaleology ProfessorPaleology TeacherProfessorSociocultural Anthropology ProfessorUniversity Faculty Member